of the Fishery Board for Scotland. 



73 



2. No cruives in district. Dams, yes, with following exceptions, viz.: — 



On the Annan — There is no heck at tail of mill race at Bryclekirk Mill, 

 belonging to Francis Henry Wilson, residing there. On the Kittle — At 

 Beltemont Mill, belonging to Miss Ann Beattie, 13 Church Street, 

 Annan, there is no heck at intake or tail of race, and never 

 were ; at Kirtlebridge Mill, belonging to the trustees of the late John 

 Irving, per Herbert Cavan Irving, Esq., Burnfoot, Ecclefechan, there 

 is not a fish-pass nor hecks at intake or tail of mill race, and never were. 

 On the Mein — At Mein Mill, belonging to the Duke of Buccleuch, 

 there is not a fish-pass nor hecks at intake or tail of mill race, and never 

 were. 



3. One new pass has been put in dam at Beltenmount Mill (aforesaid), and 



one altered at Rigg dam, on the Kirtle. 



4. Yes. 



5 and 6. No alteration. 



Pollutions — 

 None. 



The Salmon Disease — 



1. Yes ; first seen on 2nd January, at its height end of January, and dis- 



appeared end of March ; very few observed diseased during the 

 season ; rivers being often in flood, salmon did not remain long in the 

 rivers after spawning. 



2. Medium. 



3. Yes ; January, five, all male, two had spawned and three unspawned ; 



February, one, a male, spawned ; March, one, a male, spawned. 



4. None. 



The Spawning Season — 



1. 26th November. 



2. Last two weeks in January and first week in February. 



3. Last week in February. 



4. High. 



5. Less ; owing to the flooded state of the river, salmon were not easily seen 



on the beds, and many may have spawned that could not be seen. 



6. Northfield, Mount Annan, Luce, Meinfoot, Hoddam Bridge, Mainholm, 



and Kotchell, on the Annan. 



Kelts— 



1. 12th February. 



2. Last two weeks in February. 



3. Last week in April. 



4. Medium. 



Smolts — 



1. Last week in April and during May. 



2. No ; below the average. 



Artificial Propagation of Salmon — 

 None in district. 



Proportion of Male to Female Salmon — 

 This cannot be accurately given, as notes are not taken at the different 

 fisheries. 



General Question- 

 Nothing further than it would be well to keep in view the complicated 

 state of the Acts of Parliament referring to the Solway Firth, and I 

 may further state that a few years ago the proprietors of fishings in the 

 lower portions of the river Annan stopped netting for salmon, and since 

 then pike, roach, and skellies have become very numerous in the river, 

 and which are very injurious to salmon spawn, smolts, and sea-trout. 

 Last summer, at the request of the Fishery Board, these portions of the 

 river were netted, with the result that 16 pike and 543 roach and 

 skellies were caught. 



